White population declined in 15 states

by Carol Morello - Sept. 30, 2011 12:00 AMWashington Post

WASHINGTON - Non-Hispanic Whites are a dwindling share of the U.S. population, with their numbers dropping in the Northeast and Midwest and growing only modestly in the South and West, the Census Bureau said Thursday.

Whites declined in 15 states, almost all in the industrial and farming states from Massachusetts to Pennsylvania, and from Kansas to Ohio. They also declined in California and three Southern states.

A Census Bureau analysis of the 2010 count showed that the number of non-Hispanic Whites rose over the decade from 194.5 million to 197 million, but the 1.2 percent growth rate fell far short of the national increase of 9.7 percent. Non-Hispanic Whites are now 64 percent of the population, down from 69 percent a decade ago.

The census also reported that the Black population grew by 12 percent. African-Americans now make up almost 13 percent of the population, a small increase over the decade. More than half, 57 percent, live in the South, up from 55 percent a decade ago. And six out of 10 Blacks live in 10 states.

The analysis of the nation's White and Black population underscores the transformative nature of growth in the 21st century. The number of Hispanics and Asians is soaring, the number of Blacks is growing slowly and Whites are almost at a standstill.

Hispanics are an ethnic group who can be of any race. Most Hispanics identified themselves as White. The number of Whites who indicated they are Hispanic increased by 56 percent.

Whites who are not Hispanic are getting older on average, and have low birthrates that, when coupled with the high birthrates of Hispanics and Asians, make Whites a smaller share of the population with every census count.

Even when Hispanics are included, the percentage of Whites in the total population still declined over the past decade, from 75 percent to 72 percent.